Knott's family 'all in' for Cyclones

AMES - Last week, Iowa State linebacker Jake Knott recorded 18 tackles while dealing with occasional, sharp shoulder socket pain.

This week, the native Missourian's been collecting extra tickets from teammates so his large extended family can attend today's 1 p.m. Big 12 game at Missouri.

“If I can get enough tickets everybody can come,” said Knott, who hopes his visit to a state that served as home until he was in eighth grade coincides with spoiling the Tigers' 100th homecoming celebration. “It's a huge game.”

In so many ways.

The Cyclones (3-2, 0-2) can snap a two-game skid. Missouri (2-3, 0-2) has lost three of four games, all by 10 points or less.

“Win or lose (today), there's a lot of football to play,” said ISU Coach Paul Rhoads, whose wife, Vickie, grew up in northern Missouri.

And Knott, the Big 12's leading tackler with an average of 11.8 per game, refuses to miss more than a snap or two - whatever pain he's enduring at the time.

“He plays the game the right way,” Rhoads said. “He plays it so hard. You can win a lot of football games with the Jake Knotts of this world.”

During spring drills, Knott broke the ulna bone in his right arm. Surgery forced him to sit out the spring game, but he was back in the weight room with a modified left-side training plan almost immediately.

Last Saturday, his left arm popped out of its shoulder socket twice. Knott wore a sling this week to help prevent further damage.

He seemed more annoyed than pained about the problem.

“It's just a quick shot of pain and then you're fine once it's back in place,” Knott said. “It's just one of those things.”

Nothing new for Knott.

“It seems like he always has injuries, which is not a good thing,” said his mother, Laura. “In Pop Warner football, in sixth grade, he's playing with a broken arm. It's just always something with him and he still wants to always get out there and Luke's the same way.”

Luke, Jake's younger brother, plays for Lee's Summit (Mo.) West and has committed to Iowa State. He, along with his mom, dad, Tim, several aunts, uncles and friends, will be among the ticket recipients if Jake is successful in hunt.

“Everybody in my family, from my siblings, to my nieces, cousins, everybody supports Jake 100 percent,” Laura Knott said. “Because Iowa State's really the only college besides the other smaller colleges that ever gave Jake a chance.”

Call it destiny. Really, call it that.

Jake's middle name is “Allin.” It's also his mother's maiden name. As in “All in.” ISU football's slogan.

“Isn't that ironic?” said Laura Knott, who has 11 siblings who harbor allegiances to Kansas or Missouri unless Jake is playing against said teams. “That's a meaningful sign.”

The Knotts lived in Iowa for four-and-half years, long enough to see Jake progress through Waukee High School, star in both baseball and football, then worry about his college gridiron hopes.

Then came Rhoads and everything changed.

“I cant imagine Jake any other place besides Iowa State, playing for coach Rhoads,” Laura Knott said. “After all the struggles we had prior to that, about Jake maybe getting a good football offer, it all ends up working out regardless of all the stress we were under.”

It didn't take long for Knott's family in Missouri to become big Cyclone fans. Laura joked that she helps nudge the reluctant ones with Christmas present threats.

Now they're “all in.” In more meaningful ways than one.

“You find out if blood is thicker than water,” Jake said. “They're all Iowa State fans now, which is good. The first year, it was converting. Now, I've finally got ‘em all.”

More connections

- Cyclone Coach Paul Rhoads met his wife, Vickie, while at Missouri Western. Was she a Missouri fan, or Kansas fan growing up?

None of the above,” she said.

That's because her dad is a huge NASCAR fan. So much so that her family will be at the Sprint Cup Series Chase for the Championship race weekend at Talladega while the Cyclones play host to Texas A&M on Oct. 22.

- Two former Harlan Cyclone stars play for Missouri. Dan Hoch is a veteran offensive lineman. His brother, Matt, is a developing defensive end.

GAME ANALYSIS

When Iowa State has the ball

Cut down on three and outs. Missouri ranks 17th in total offense. Cyclones must keep them off the field by sustaining drives.

Give White room. Cyclone running back James White has shown surprising speed in long touchdown runs. If he sees daylight, look out.

Quick drop, pass. Quarterback Steele Jantz must act quickly on passing plays. The Tigers are averaging 2.2 sacks per game.

Keep up the “trickeration.” ISU's Darius Reynolds has caught two long trick-play passes. Will he throw one against Mizzou?

Turn red to green. The Cyclones have scored points on 14 of 21 trips to the red zone. That rate's better than just five teams in the FBS.

When Missouri has the ball

Lock down edges. ISU ranks a respectable 57th in pass defense, allowing 220.2 yards per game. Continue to prevent big plays.

Toughen up the core. Baylor shredded the Cyclones on the ground last week and Missouri is 14th in rushing offense at 225 yards per game.

More pressure. Every week, ISU gets a bit more pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Must do the same today - by rattling James Franklin.

Hope for better winds. Several punts into a fierce Waco wind last week dropped ISU's average to 37th. Expect that to move back up.

Rule the air. ISU is one of eight teams in the FBS with only one interception this season. That number needs to improve.

The scoreboard

Cyclones keep up for a while, but Missouri's running game wears them down late. Big ground numbers for Tiger quarterback James Franklin.

Missouri 27, ISU 21.